ghosting

American  

[goh-sting] / ˈgoʊ stɪŋ /

noun

1. the appearance of multiple copies or blurred representations of an object on a screen or in an image.

2. Informal.

   1. the practice of suddenly ending all contact with a person without explanation, often in a dating or romantic relationship.

      After several unanswered calls and texts to her, he concluded he’d been a victim of ghosting.

   2.  French leave.   Irish goodbye.  the act of leaving a social event or engagement suddenly and without saying goodbye.

      Ghosting might be the best option if we want to get home before midnight.

   3. the act or practice of abandoning a job without notice and refusing further contact.

      A labor shortage has contributed to ghosting in the workplace.

3. Digital Technology. the removal of comments, threads, or other content from a website or online forum without informing the poster, keeping them hidden from the public but still visible to the poster.

4. the act of adopting the identity of a dead person, especially someone relatively unknown, before the death has been recognized by the government, banks, etc..

   Sometimes ghosting can go on for months before the crime is detected.

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Etymology

Origin of ghosting

First recorded in 1955–60; ghost + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

In modern slang it’s ghosting, or merely ducking out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Discovery WBD 4.41%increase; green up pointing triangle was in trouble when the company’s CEO, David Zaslav, started ghosting him.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 9, 2025

It wasn’t quite ghosting; if I texted, he’d respond.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 12, 2025

The uptick in ghosting behavior from recruiters adds to the mental health toll job hunting can take.

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2025

“For not telling everyone my secret. For ghosting her. And because she wanted the attention for being on Scrollr.”

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows